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French-German Master's Double-Degree Program

Joint program of Institut Polytechnique de Paris and Freie Universität Berlin

Berlin - Paris

Berlin - Paris
Image Credit: Mhajr Invincible, Diogo Fagundes; Unsplash

Physics students enrolled in our master's program can also study in a master's double-degree program that we offer in collaboration with the Institut Polytechnique de Paris. The program is certified as the course from the Franco-German University (Deutsch-Französische Hochschule, DFH).

Two diplomas in one program

Graduates of the double-degree program receive degree certificates from both the Freie Universität Berlin and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris. Besides, graduates receive a certificate of the Franco-German University.

Up to 10 places are available annually in the double-degree program.

Application

Requirements

Master students of Freie Universität Berlin who have very good German language skills as well as French language skills of about level A2 GeR (or vice versa) are entitled to apply.

Documents

Applications need to consist of the following:

  • informal application letter;
  • certified copy of the Bachelor's certificate attesting the final grade;
  • certified copy of the Master's program transcript;
  • curriculum vitae;
  • motivation letter;
  • recommendation letter of a university lecturer;
  • proof of language skills (e.g., high school degrees, certificates, etc.).

Double Application

Applications have to be submitted online via the online portal of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris (please ignore the application deadlines mentioned there!) and, at the same time, by e-mail to doublemaster@physik.fu-berlin.de.

Deadlines

The regular application deadline is June 30 during the first year of the master's program. If you plan to apply for Erasmus funding in parallel, please submit your application by March 10. If the master's double degree program is to be completed within the standard study period of four semesters, the start of the master's program must be in the winter semester.

Early application

Besides the standard application, we also offer the possibility of an early application. The deadline for the early application is 30. June before starting the master's studies. Candidates will apply in parallel for the master's program in physics of Freie Universität Berlin (deadline for the winter semester: August 15) and the master's double degree program.

The application to the latter is carried out as described above (replace certified transcript of Master course by certified transcript of Bachelor course with current average grade). At the same time, you submit your application for the master's program in physics at the Freie Universität Berlin. Successful candidates of the early application will get a provisional admission to the double degree program, which means they are admitted if their average grade in the first semester of master's studies is 2.0 or better. If the grade is worse, they will have to apply again after the first master's semester. Please see also the FAQ's concerning the Master course.

Curriculum

1st year - advanced phase in Berlin

Double degree master's students who start their studies in Berlin complete the advanced phase of the amount of 60 ECTS credit points in Berlin.

The only difference to the normal master's degree program in physics at Freie Universität Berlin is that "Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics" (10 ECTS) has to be taken as a compulsory-elective course if this or an equivalent module has not yet been completed during the bachelor's program.

2nd year - research phase in Paris

Double degree master's students spend the second year of the program at Institut Polytechnique de Paris. The studies start at September 1 and will be graded with another 60 ECTS credit points.

There, a coherent research phase of twelve months is completed in one of the scientific working groups. In parallel, compulsory modules (mostly lectures) of a Master-2 program in physics offered by the Institut Polytechnique de Paris will be taken during the first six months in the amount of 30 ECTS credit points, of which 5 points will be spent on expanding French language and cultural literacy.

The Master's thesis will be prepared at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris. The recommended Master-2 program is "Materials Science and Nano-Objects". Students choose their courses in coordination with the program's supervisor.

Funding

Participants in the master's double degree program will receive a monthly mobility allowance of 300 euros/month (350 euros/month from the winter semester 2023/2024) from the French-German University for ten months during their stay in France.

We endeavour to assist participants by finding affordable accommodation on the campus of Institut Polytechnique de Paris.

Funding by the Erasmus program

Double degree students can receive additional financial support from the Erasmus program on top of the mobility allowance from the Franco-German University. The rate of the Erasmus support is recalculated every semester; it amounted to 390 euros/month in the winter semester 2019/2020.

Please note that you must apply for the Erasmus support before January 31 of the year in which the stay in France commences. In this case, the application for the double degree program has to be submitted already before  March 10 instead of the regular deadline of June 30. Provisional admission to the double degree program has to be converted into a final admission before March 10 or be replaced by a regular application by that date.